house guest.
This farce -- heeding the marvelous idiosyncrasies of French manners of the time -- gallops towards its climax leaving an exhausting trail of laughter in its wake.
This play illustrates in a comic manner the neoclassical lesson of a man getting into trouble by failing to live by the neoclassical precept of moderation. It is an excellent example of using comedy to laugh people out of their foibles.
In this play it is possible to place most of the characters into two categories: those who embody the neoclassical ideals and those who violate the ideals. Think about how you would label each of the following: Madame Pernelle, Orgon, Elmire, Damis, Mariane, Cleante, Dorine.
In scene 1, what is bothering Madame Pernelle?
What do we learn about Tartuffe's background in this scene?
What is Dorine's analysis of the source of rumors about the family? (lines 103-140) What shrewd insight into human nature does she state?
In scene 2, Dorine speaks of Orgon's activities in the recent political unrest (lines 9-13). How do these later facts figure into the resolution of the plot?
From scene 3, what complicated relationship do we discern among Damis, Mariane, Valere, and Valere's sister?
Orgon first appears in scene 4. What is humorous about the questions he puts to Dorine? Cite some examples of sarcasm.
In scene 5 how is Racine able to make us see the hypocrisy of Tartuffe while Orgon, our source of information, cannot see it?
In scene 2, look carefully at the various methods Dorine uses to convince Orgon to change his mind about forcing the marriage of Mariane and Tartuffe.
In this scene, what excuse does Orgon give for breaking his promise to Valere?
In scene 3, what excuse does Mariane give for accepting her father's plan for the marriage? Is Moliere saying something about virtue and moderation?
In scene 4, what is the cause of the spat between the lovers? What point is Moliere making here?
What is Dorin...